Storm killed at least five in Jharkhand

Ranchi: At least five people died and large stretches of farm land were affected in Jharkhand due to the peripheral effect of cyclone Phailin in neighbouring Odisha.

"While the latest figure will be known soon, five persons died (at different places) till yesterday," Arun Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of Disaster Management Department, said.

On crop damage, Singh said the final figures are being compiled, and tentatively it is across 50,000 hectare.

The deaths occurred due to electrocution or incidents of wall collapse at various districts, police sources said.

Jharkhand, which had the peripheral effect after Phailin hit neighbouring Odisha, received heavy rains accompanied by strong winds on October 13, 14 and 15 across the state.
Several hutments were blown away in Pakur, Dumka and Jamtara districts, while hundreds of trees uprooted at many places under the impact of the cyclonic storm.

Over hundred transformers were also reportedly damaged and Chief Minister Hemant Soren yesterday directed the State Electricity Board to replace them within a week.